Status

Active

"I came to realize that I have more to offer this world than just making things that blow up. And that is why, effective immediately, I am shutting down the weapons manufacturing division of Stark Industries until such a time as I can decide what the future of the company will be."

Stark Industries is a multinational industrial company handed down to Tony Stark, by his father, Howard Stark. Obadiah Stane was appointed interim CEO immediately following Howard's death, with Tony Stark officially assuming the position shortly after at the age of 21. Stark appointed Pepper Potts CEO when he was dying from palladium poisoning [1] and she continued to maintain the position after Stark engineered his own recovery.

Contents

History

This industrial/weapons company was founded by Howard Stark during the early twentieth century, a great pioneer in different types of technology and constantly helping the United States Armed Forces with different and innovative weapons, helping the government to create the Super Soldier Serum. [2] Years later, he created an Arc Reactor along with Anton Vanko,[1] a source which provided free, pure and efficient energy for Stark Industries' main plant.

After the death of Howard in 1991 at the hands of HYDRA,[3] the company was inherited by Tony Stark, with the help of Obadiah Stane, although Stane was appointed interim CEO immediately after Howard's death before Tony could officially assume the position of CEO.

Stark was kidnapped by the terrorist organization known as the Ten Rings in Afghanistan, and developed a suit of armor powered with a miniaturized Arc Reactor to escape captivity. Upon his return to Malibu, he decided the company would no longer produce weaponry, as he discovered his captors possessed illegal Stark tech.

Stark further developed his armor to create new models, such as the Iron Man Armor: Mark III and started looking for and destroying stolen Stark tech, which he later discovered Obadiah Stane was selling behind his back. Stark faced Stane, who had created his own suit of armor, and killed him in battle.[4]

Six months later, Stark reinaugurated the Stark Expo, and was attacked by Anton Vanko's son Ivan, who thought Howard Stark was responsible for Anton's misery and death, although Anton was deported because he tried to use the reactor to his own profit.

Stark later opened a new base for Stark Industries in New York City, building the Stark Tower, which was powered by a new prototype Arc Reactor inside the tower. Meanwhile, Potts procured permits to build a Stark Tower in Washington, D.C.[5]